UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1008 Page 1 of 2 XXXX 11/27/2023 1:47 PM Jacketed A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Transportation Cabinet to study the cost and 1 benefits of increasing the maximum interstate highway speed limit. 2 WHEREAS, on November 28, 1995, the National Highway System Designation 3 Act was signed into law. It repealed the requirement that states, as a condition of 4 receiving federal-aid highway assistance, adhere to a national maximum speed limit of 65 5 miles per hour; 6 WHEREAS, states now have the power to set maximum speed limits on interstate 7 highways within their borders; 8 WHEREAS, 18 states have set maximum interstate speed limits over 70 miles per 9 hour; 10 WHEREAS, rural states and areas are more likely to have higher maximum speed 11 limits on interstate highways, and most of Kentucky's interstate highways traverse rural 12 areas; 13 WHEREAS, increasing the maximum speed limit has the potential to make travel 14 easier for Kentucky's motorists; and 15 WHEREAS, any potential change in the maximum speed limit should be studied by 16 professional engineers; 17 NOW, THEREFORE, 18 Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 19 Section 1. The Transportation Cabinet is directed to study the cost and benefits 20 of increasing the maximum interstate highway speed limit. 21 Section 2. At a minimum, the study shall: 22 (1) Determine current average speeds on Kentucky interstate highways; 23 (2) Analyze the effect of increased maximum speed limits on traffic congestion, 24 motor vehicle collisions, and passenger injuries and fatalities; and 25 (3) Identify potential sections of Kentucky's interstate system for which an 26 increased maximum speed limit is appropriate. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1008 Page 2 of 2 XXXX 11/27/2023 1:47 PM Jacketed Section 3. The Transportation Cabinet shall make a recommendation regarding 1 increasing speed limits on interstate highways to the Interim Joint Committee on 2 Transportation by December 1, 2025. 3